The Localist: 1888 Dirtiest Martini Mix

Odds are when you think of Texas cocktails, a martini is not the first to pop into your head. But with products like 1888 Dirtiest Martini Mix being bottled right here in Dallas, it should at least be on the list. 1888 is the first and only authentic olive juice pressed from whole Spanish olives. And it’s by far the best olive juice I have ever tasted.

Martinis are fairly easy to make no matter what you use, but I love 1888 because it makes the perfect martini every time. The suggested recipe is 4 oz vodka with 1 oz 1888, shaken with ice and served. My favorite is the “filthy”. It is 2 parts vodka to 2 parts 1888, shaken with ice for 30 seconds, strained into a martini glass and served with 3 Queen Spanish olives stuffed with blue cheese. It is absolutely amazing.

I’m a little picky when it comes to vodka. My choice would be Cinco. It is not a Dallas product but it is Texas-made. Cinco comes out of San Antonio and is the only Texas vodka made with winter wheat. Winter wheat is what categorizes vodkas like Grey Goose and Ketel One as “ultra premium.”

Not a big drinker but love olive juice? 1888 is great when added to a virgin bloody mary. It’s also the perfect base to several seafood dishes. To see a list of recipes and find out more about 1888 Dirtiest Martini Mix, visit their website or head over to their Facebook page. And don’t forget to wish them a Happy Birthday as they celebrated 5 years on March 8.